Tag Archives: BDN Football

Duke Football

Duke stands out to DE prospect Allen Jackson

Allen Jackson is receiving interest from many ACC and SEC schools

While Duke is working hard to improve their defense on the field this spring, the coaching staff is also working hard to upgrade the defense with a talented group of prospects in the class of 2012. Allen Jackson is a 6’5” 225 pound defensive end prospect from Owings Mills, Maryland. Playing defensive end and tight end for McDonogh High School, Allen earned All-Conference honors as a junior, and has already received offers from Duke, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia. Highlights from Allen’s junior year can be viewed here.

 

BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

As a player, I definitely think I use my hands and my quickness definitely to my ability, but I definitely think I play more of a finesse game than a power game, but I definitely see my hands and my quickness off the ball, as a strength of mine.

BDN: What are some of the things you’re working on this offseason?

Off-season, it’s just trying to be quicker off the ball, and trying to become stronger, and at the next level that’s going to be one of the things I’m going to continue to work on as well.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior season?

Senior year, I want to be all-state, I want to have at least 15 sacks in a year, I just want to dominate.

BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?

Definitely how I get along with the coaches, and how prestigious they are in their academics, and certainly how far they are from my family.

BDN: Who are the schools you have heard from the most so far? Who were the first schools to contact you?

Definitely Maryland was the first to contact me, and Duke as well, I’ve heard the most from them, but those were my first two scholarship offers, I’ve heard a lot from some some SEC schools, and a lot of the ACC schools as well.

BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools?

I’ve visited Maryland and Duke.

BDN: Do you have any plans for additional visits this spring or summer?

Duke has stood out to DE Allen Jackson early

 

 

I definitely plan to visit some more of the ACC schools along the coast in the upcoming months, and I also want to probably go down to Vanderbilt, and another SEC school or two.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?

Definitely Duke, with their academics, it’s a very high, prestigious school, and Duke is a school I can really see myself at.

BDN: Do you have an idea for when you would like to make your college decision?

Not at the moment, I’m just kind of going to take it as it flows in.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Allen, and best of luck to you.

Thank you. Certainly, certainly. You too. Bye.

 

Duke Football

Duke leads for Durham athlete Phillip Williamson

Duke has extended an offer to Phillip Williamson of Jordan HS

The Blue Devils’ secondary has been area of recent concern for many Duke fans, and the coaching staff has worked hard to upgrade the depth over the past two recruiting classes. In the class of 2012, Duke has already been in contact with Durham athlete Phillip Williamson, a 6’2” 210 pound prospect from Jordan High School. The physical safety prospect earned 2010 All-Conference honors, leading Jordan to the state playoffs and a 7-5 overall record. Although it's early in the process, the Blue Devils have stood out to Phillip and are the earlier leader.

 

BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

I’m a hard worker; I’m the first one on the field, last one out.  Same with the weight room, just a hard worker and a football player.

BDN: What are some of the things you’re working on this offseason?

I’m working on my speed, flexibility, and quickness.  And I’m trying to get stronger.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior season?

I want a state championship.  That’s all it is, that’s all it means to me, it’s just team.  I wouldn’t mind winning, but I really care about the team more than just myself.

BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?

Academics and the coaching.

BDN: Is there a specific academic field you are interested in?

Sociology.

BDN: Who are the schools you have heard from the most so far?

Duke, [North] Carolina, Maryland, Wake Forest, Liberty, I got stuff from Clemson, I got stuff from Auburn, Illinois.  I got like 2 things from Oregon.  I heard from Miami, so schools like that.

BDN: Have you had a chance to visit any schools?

Unofficially, I went to Duke.  But I went to like a lot of schools, to their games.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process?

Duke is the early leader for local prospect Phil Williamson

 

 

I think Duke, out of all of them, for the academics, and then it’s a building process, and I’d like to be part of a building process.

BDN: Do you have any plans for additional visits this spring or summer?

Not really.  Like, me and my parents are looking at schools to visit right now, but right now not really. I’m going to visit Duke and [North] Carolina probably a lot this spring, though.

BDN: Is there anything else you think college football fans should know about you?

I love fans hyping the game up, that really gets me, it’s all the emotion of a football game, fans really help with that.  Just keep cheering for the team and that’d be good for me.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Phillip, and best of luck.

All right.

 

Duke Football

Coach Cutcliffe and Duke are evaluating CT QB Casey Cochran

QB Casey Cochran was the 2010 Gatorade Player of the Year in CT

Head Coach David Cutcliffe is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, thanks to his work with Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree at Duke, and Peyton and Eli Manning at Tennessee and Ole Miss. In the class of 2012, Duke has already been in contact with many of the top quarterback prospects around the country, including Casey Cochran of Connecticut. Cochran is a 6’1” 205 pound pro-style quarterback from Masuk High School in Monroe, CT. As a junior, Cochran led the top offense in the state to a championship, earning himself the state Gatorade Player of the Year award. Highlights of his junior season, during which he threw 2,670 yards and 36 touchdowns, can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing your strengths as a quarterback?

Some of my strengths are, I think, are accuracy in all throws, moving in the pocket, arm strength, and reading coverages.

BDN: What are some of the things you have been working on this offseason?

I’ve been working on depth and quickness of my drops, footwork.  Every day I’ve been working on footwork.  Throwing on the run was a big thing to work on; I didn’t do it much this year, but work on that a lot.

BDN: Are there any quarterbacks in the NFL or college game that you have studied or modeled your game after?

Definitely, I’ve been watching a lot of Aaron Rodgers this year, he has like impeccable form.  It’s perfect.  Same thing with Tom Brady.  He holds the ball a little low, but I love watching him.  They’re 2 great quarterbacks I love watching, as well as Peyton Manning, just how he runs offense is awesome.

BDN: What are your goals for your senior season?

Definitely want to win the championship again, go undefeated, we did that this year, and I definitely want to repeat, go out with a bang.  I want to be the number one offense in the state, and just do better than last year.

BDN: What are the most important factors you’re considering when looking at colleges?

First of all, academics.  Academics are the strongest thing I’m looking for.  Also facilities and academic support, as well as the type of offense run there.

BDN: Is there a specific academic field you think you would like to study in college?

Yes, sports medicine, I’d like to get into physical therapy or personal training.

BDN: Do you have a preference for a particular offensive style?

Yeah, I’m looking for pro-style, with a mix-up of spread too.

BDN: What schools have you had the most contact with so far and who were the first schools to contact you?

Cochran has an early offer from Boston College

The first – I have an offer from BC, and they were the strongest at first.  I have – I went to the UConn and Rutgers Junior Day, and I am scheduled to go to Virginia, Duke, and NC State Junior Days, as well as Penn State this spring.

BDN: Have any schools stood out to you at this point in the process, either on your visits or through your contact with coaches?

Not necessarily yet, no, it’s still pretty early.

BDN: Do you know what camps you plan on attending this summer?

Not yet, but I’m definitely going to UConn and Rutgers.  We haven’t planned every camp out yet, but definitely UConn and Rutgers and BC.

BDN: At this point in the process, do you have an idea when you would like to make your college decision?

No, I’m taking my time now, but I am scheduled to graduate January of my senior year, so I’m trying to take my time, but before then I would definitely make my decision.

Duke Football

Duke offers QB Bilal Marshall, who has an ACC favorite early

ACC schools are lining up for QB Bilal Marshall

Bilal Marshall is one of the top quarterback prospects in the state of Florida and one of the top dual-threat prospects in the country. At 6’3” and 170 pounds, Marshall has a good frame and a natural athleticism that makes him an elusive playmaker. Several ACC programs are recruiting the standout signal-caller from Miami’s Dade Christian, and one school has stood out to him early. Highlights of his sophomore season can be viewed here.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

Well, I play quarterback and I’m a dual-threat. When everything is locked up, nothing makes a defense more mad than when a quarterback goes and gets a first down himself. I can run the ball pretty well, I had over 900 yards rushing myself this year and I can throw the ball good. I think that I’m very accurate and I’ve got a good arm. That’s pretty much it there.

BDN: Being a quarterback, is there a particular player in the NFL or in college that you compare yourself to or have studied closely?

Well, right now it’s Darron Thomas, the quarterback for Oregon. I feel like we have a very similar type of play.

BDN: What are some of the things you’ve been working on this offseason?

Well the main thing the college coaches tell me is to keep working on my feet. They say my feet have gotten better from my sophomore year. I’ve gotten a lot better. They just want me to keep working on it so that it will help me make better throws. That’s the main thing I’m working on this whole offseason – footwork.

BDN: I know you had a great year last season and made the playoffs. What are your goals for your team and yourself individually for the fall?

For my senior year, number one is to win a state championship. I’ve got my last chance to do it. I want to probably have over 3,000 all-purpose yards, and try to mentor some of the young kids that’s coming in and try to help the legacy of my school keep going on.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

Definitely academics. Whatever is going to fit me for my future because making it to the NFL is a one in a million chance, so that main thing is academics.

BDN: Is there a particular field or program that you’re interested in academically?

Right now it’s open. I don’t know yet. I’m still in the process of trying to figure out what I want to do in life.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you?

Wake Forest has always been on top for me. They’ve been out ahead and coming to talk to me every once in awhile, coming to my school. I have a great bond with the recruiting coordinator, with Coach Ray McCartney. They offerd me early in my year. I have just recently got an offer from Duke and from Boston College. Right now, I feel like Wake Forest has really been after me and so has Rutgers.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far? What schools do you definitely plan on visiting later this year?

The only school I’ve been to is an unofficial visit to Wake Forest, I’ve been to one of their camps. I’m going to be going to a Junior Day at UM [Miami] this weekend and a Junior Day at Clemson April 9. And I’ll probably make the spring game for Wake Forest in late April.

BDN: Are there any schools that you haven’t heard a lot from or that you’re hoping to receive an offer from soon?

Definitely Clemson. I’ve grown up watching them play. I like to watch them play because of their explosive plays. I could definitely see myself in that program, but whatever happens, happens.

BDN: You also mentioned that Rutgers, Duke, and Boston College have offered you. How much do you know about those schools and do you plan on visiting or learning more?

Well it’s still early. I’m still trying to build a bond with those other schools. I’ve only talked to Duke maybe three times. Rutgers has been on me also, they’re probably right behind Wake Forest, with talking to me and being in contact with them all the time. Boston College I’ve only met the recruiter once, but they told me they’ll keep in contact with me.

BDN: Do you have any plans for what camps you will attend at this point?

Too early right now. I’m not sure if I will be attending any college camps, but it feels like probably the Manning Passing Academy, depending on financials. It’s an expensive trip.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

I’ll probably make my decision by Signing Day next year. I won’t be committing anywhere before then.

BDN: Is there anything else that you think is important for college football fans to know about you?

I’m just one person that’s willing to do anything for whatever program I’m with. I feel like I’m a great kid, I’m willing to help out anybody. And I just love to win, so whatever program I’m in, I’ll do my best to lead that team to 10 wins on the season or more.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Bilal and best of luck to you.

No problem. Alright, thank you sir.